My short comment: I almost passed out of shock when I first read this. My mother and my father almost had a heart attack.

While I support the Palestinian cause it also concerns me how Lula is jeopardizing more and more Brazil’s diplomatic ties with ther nations.

I wonder how long will it be until Brazil figures in the blacklist of potential terrorist countries. For one who aims a permanent seat in the UN’s Security Council this was a very, very bad move.

President Lula should have kept in mind that defending Brazil’s interests comes first. Supporting random causes, humanitarian issues and other nations is secondary to our nation’s very own issues. He should have known better.

May 29th, 2010

Out of all memories the traveler brings along when returning from a trip, my dearest is an unlikely one: the feeling of being safe and free.

Having been assaulted many times and witness to countless acts of violence, it’s no secret I’m greatly distressed over the problem of violence in Brazil. Yet, even I myself wouldn’t suspect I was stressed to such a high degree. Returning from Israel and Switzerland, my fondest memories are those of being able to open the door of your house without prior surveiling for random thugs in the surroundings. You can actually walk side by side with people without thinking they are too close and would pull a gun or knife on you. You don’t have to hold your handbag in intricate ways that would make sailor’s knots look amateur. You can actually go out alone in the streets at night. You don’t have to watch out for the shadows behind you, you don’t have to change your path or take an unlikely shortcut or enter some food place or whatever is in front of you just because there is a likely bandit following you. You don’t have to stand fucking crack-heads. You can actually use your watch and your jewelry. You can use your laptop and cell phone out in the streets. You don’t need to have your place protected by electrified fences, personal security guard, 5 locks in the main door. You don’t feel caged in your own private apartment prison when all the bad guys are out there free, laughing at you, just waiting for you to go out so they can party on you all night.

Of course I’m not naive to think these things only happen here and not anywhere else. But in here it happens to an extent and degree 6,02×10²³ higher than in any other place daring to call itself “civilized”.

I nearly cried when I stepped foot back in Sao Paulo and caught myself doing the habitual survelliance again… 🙁Being very serious, I advise anyone to consider all this before remotely considering a visit to Brazil.

March 19th, 2010

Today Mr. not-so-governor José Roberto Arruda left jail – only to go to the Cardiology Institute for a cardiac procedure. After catheterised, he was sent back to jail. He should go through an angioplasty soon (apparently, the man happens to have a heart indeed). His lawyers are trying to use his heart disease as an excuse for him to be under house arrest rather than in prison, but their attempts have so far been in vain.

President Lula made a visit to the Mideast. While visiting Israel, he declined an invitation from Israeli government to visit the tomb of Theodr Herzl, father of zionism, and he deffended the creation of a Palestine nation and also visited the tomb of Yasser Arafat, presenting his memory with a flowers garland.

Today is the last day for the Brazilian health care personnel to take their shot against H1N1 Influenza. This ends Phase one of vaccination campaign. Phase 2 starts on Monday, the 22nd through April 2nd, and the target public are pregnant women, infants from 6 months to 2 years old, and not elderly people with chronic diseases.

My recent Flickr updates

This is not a random gullible green author raising the flag of veganism. It is a rather detailed research on how does the American meat industry works. Every claim and factual citation is properly referenced. Even when the reference is only...